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Don Lemon Tonight
GOP Trump Critics Turned into Allies; April Jobs Report Drop; Four Ex-Minneapolis Officers Facing New Charges; Republicans Passing New Election Laws; Floyd Family Pleased with DOJ's Action; State Lawmaker Multitasking While Driving. Aired 10-11p ET
Aired May 07, 2021 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[22:00:00]
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: We interview a lot of folks and you learn a lot about that album. Fifty years later, the number one album by Rolling Stone and they are still relevant.
Thank you, Michael. I watch the entire show. You did a great job. Have a great weekend and a great show tomorrow.
MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Nice to say that.
LEMON: Yes.
SMERCONISH: You, too.
LEMON: All right. I'll see you soon.
SMERCONISH: Thank you.
LEMON: This is CNN Tonight. I'm Don Lemon.
If you think what's going on in the GOP tonight doesn't matter, if you are thinking that they lost the White House, right? They lost the Senate and they lost the House, so they don't matter? I want you to consider this. I want you to think about it, really. You need to get your butt in gear and your mind in gear. Because if you -- if this is the country you want, OK, fine. Then don't do anything about it.
But I want you to think about this. When Republicans lost the White House, when they lost the White House, when the former guy refused to concede, when he continued to push the big lie and still is, the big lie that spawn the insurrection at the capitol, the reason it didn't work with that Republicans at the state level and in Congress who refused to buy into the big lie, they stood up for the truth. That's why it did not work then.
Well. Well. What if it happens again? What if it happens after all -- after those Republicans who stood up for the truth like Liz Cheney and others, what they are purged? What if they get rid of them? What if they take them out of their positions of authority in power? Here is what you get.
You get Jewish space laser, QAnon Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene who spewed racist, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, garbage conspiracy theories, not to mention expressing approval of violence against Democrats. You get Matt Gaetz. Matt Gaetz who loves the spotlight. Never met a camera he didn't like. Now under a federal investigation for allegations of sex trafficking and prostitution.
This is the clown car. It's the side show that is the GOP tonight, still pushing the big lie and the big liar.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): Did anybody in here vote for Joe Biden?
CROWD: No!
GREENE: Do you guys really think he won?
CROWD: No!
REP. MATT GAETZ (R-FL): This is our first stop and there would be many more. America's greatest president and the undisputed leader of the Republican Party, Donald J. Trump might join us on with you!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: That's today's GOP. Whether they like it or not. Or whether you like it or not. A party caught in the iron grip of a disgraced, twice impeached, one term, insurrection inspiring -- inspiring former president who lost the House, last the Senate and lost the White House. Yet, Lindsey Graham says there is no GOP without him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): I would just say to my Republican colleagues, can we move forward without President Trump? The answer is no. I've always liked Liz Cheney, but she's made a determination that the Republican Party can't -- can't grow with President Trump. I've determined that we can't grow without him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Let me in on something. I want to tell you what is going on here. What's going on here is a calculation and it's all about power. Republicans like Lindsey Graham have decided the way to win is to galvanize the angry Trump base. They can't do without him because they know he wouldn't hesitate to burn the party down. They know he'll do anything to get what he wants.
And heaven help anybody who doesn't go along, exhibit a, one, Mike Pence. Mike Pence. How does that name sound familiar? Mike Pence? The former vice president. After years of unquestioning, yes sir, whatever you say sir, loyalty, Trump could not even be bothered to check on him while rioters stormed the capitol chanting, hang Mike Pence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWD: Hang Mike Pence. Hang Mike Pence! Hang Mike Pence! Hang Mike Pence!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: They want you to forget about that day so badly. But it happened and we have to continue to show it to you. Or else it would be scrubbed from history. All because Pence wouldn't try to overturn Joe Biden's victory, which he never had the power to do in the first place. How ridiculous is that? He didn't overturn the victory, but he did not have the power to do it. They're mad at him for not doing something that he couldn't really do anyways.
[22:04:58]
The GOP is so and frayed of unleashing those forces that they will do whatever he wants. This is what Liz Cheney means when she urges Republicans to reject the call of personality. Adam Kinzinger says the big lie is the party's litmus test.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. ADAM KINZINGER (R-IL): What they are saying is if you don't go along with the big lie, if you don't go along with the fact that the election was stolen, then you basically need to go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The Republicans who don't buy the big lie are getting drowned out by the clown show. But listen to this warning. It is from senator and defense secretary, and Obama administration, former Obama administration, Senator Chuck Hagel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FMR. SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R-NE): You can't have a defeated president, who by the way, during his four years the Republicans lost both the House and the Senate, he was defeated for reelection, and have that candidate and that former president claim that he is still the leader of the party and the party must be loyal to him. The party has always been bigger than an individual. I don't care who the president is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: He is right. But he is also out of step with the GOP, that is kowtowing to a former president, a party that says get on board or get out. The Republican poised to take Liz Cheney's leadership job seems to have learned that lesson. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is now one of Trump's loudest defenders. But it wasn't always that way.
CNN's K-File uncovered what she said about candidate Trump. This is 2015.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. ELISE STEFANIK (R-NY): I think he has been insulting to women. I think we're going to see his numbers change, you know, and decline over the coming weeks and months as the other candidates have an opportunity to share their vision for the future of this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Principles, right? Elise Stefanik also said this about Trump's proposed Muslim ban. Quote, "This is not who we are as a country. This is not according to our constitutional principle. And I associate myself with Speaker Ryan's comment, just saying there is no place for what Trump said about Muslims in this country."
Without naming names, Stefanik blasted candidates who disqualified themselves by making untruthful statements.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEFANIK: I think in the presidential field there are some candidates who over the long run, and they've already started this process are somewhat disqualifying themselves with untruthful statements.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: So, I think you know who she was talking about there. And then after the infamous Access Hollywood tape she said this and I quote, "Donald Trump's inappropriate offensive comments are just wrong. No matter when he said them or whatever the context. I hope his apology is sincere."
And now, transformation. She is one of Trump's biggest defenders. Because that's what it takes to make it in the GOP today. You have to get on board. With you know what, lies and B.S., and bigotry. Or you get out. It was just two years ago that Elise Stefanik was praising Liz Cheney, and now she's on the verge of taking her job.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEFANIK: Liz, I was very proud to nominate you to serve as our conference chair. That is the highest position of women in the Republican conference. And we think you are a huge asset in that role. One of the things that you and I have talked about is the importance not just of supporting women candidates but reaching out to women voters with our message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: How things have changed. How things have changed. That is the road to success in the new GOP. Just ask Ted Cruz. Remember when Ted Cruz said this?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): I want to tell you what I really think of Donald Trump. This man is a pathological liar. He doesn't know the difference between truths and lies. He lies practically everywhere that comes out of his mouth.
(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Sorry, I was taking a little sip of water there as I watch Ted Cruz. I'm trying to figure out if he's a good actor or a bad actor. No, I don't mean like, we know he's a bad actor in the stuff that he does. I meant his performance. I also -- look at Ted Cruz. All buddy- buddy with the former president this week at Mar-a-Lago.
And while the Republican Party is tying itself up in knots just to get an attaboy from the disgraced former president, Joe Biden is doing the job of a president. The president pushing vaccines, pitching his infrastructure plan and acknowledging there is a lot of work to be done in the wake of a jobs report that fell way below expectations by the way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[22:10:03]
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Today's report is rebuttal. With the loose talk that Americans just don't want to work. I know some employers are having trouble filling jobs, but what this report shows is that there is a much bigger problem. It is that our economy still has eight million fewer jobs than when this pandemic started.
The data shows that more and more workers, more workers are looking for jobs and many can't find them. While jobs are coming back, there are still millions of people out there looking for work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: So, all of that is happening as there are new charges tonight against four former Minneapolis police officers in George Floyd 's death. A federal grand jury alleging the officers violated Floyd's constitutional rights according to court documents filed in federal court in Minnesota. Former first lady Michelle Obama talked about how she feels about the Chauvin trial.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELLE OBAMA, FORMER FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: We know that while we are all breathing a sigh of relief over the verdict, there is still work to be done, and so, we can't sort of say great, that happened. Let's move on. I know that people in the Black community don't feel that way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: She also got personal about her fears as a Black parent for her daughters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Every time they get into a car by themselves, I worry about what assumption is being made by somebody who doesn't know everything about them. The fact that they are good students and polite girls, but maybe they are playing their music a little loud. Maybe somebody sees the back of their head and makes an assumption. I, like so many parents of Black kids have to -- that the -- the innocent act of getting a license, puts fear in our hearts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: It doesn't matter if you lived in the White House or a shack. That's the kind of thing Black people face and fear on a daily basis. The deaths of George Floyd and so many others opened the eyes of a lot of white Americans to the reality of race in this country. Racism and injustice can't just be a problem for Black people. It is a problem for every American.
Now I want to turn to what's going on down in Florida tonight. CNN's Donie O'Sullivan is in The Villages. That's where Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene held a rally tonight.
Lucky you. Good evening, sir. I want to play more of what we heard --
(CROSSTALK)
DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN REPORTER: Hello, Don.
LEMON: -- at this rally. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GREENE: All right. I'm just going to check something. I just want to make sure I'm in the right place. Tell me who is your president?
CROWD: Donald Trump!
GREENE: That's my president too. OK. I just wanted to make sure I was with friends and family.
(CROWD CHEERING)
GAETZ: We have never abandoned Trump, and he has never abandoned America. He is still fighting for us. He will continue to fight for us, and we are going to have his back when he does.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Is this what these America first rallies are all about? Keeping up Trump's big lie, and also trying to, you know, garner some attention and keep their profiles high as well, right?
O'SULLIVAN: Yes. A hundred percent, Don. It's all about keeping the big lie alive, and look, as you said earlier, you know, this is -- this is good for fund-raising. We've seen how good at fund-raising Greene has been over the last quarter by pushing lies you can make a lot of money. And look, they had a receptive audience to this. I met a couple who were on their way into the event tonight. Have a listen to what they had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'SULLIVAN: You guys both genuinely believe the election was stolen?
UNKNOWN: Yes.
O'SULLIVAN: I mean, that's -- you know, if you believe that that is true --
UNKNOWN: Isn't that horrible?
O'SULLIVAN: Yes.
UNKNOWN: That is horrible.
UNKNOWN: Isn't that horrible that we would even be in this situation to even think that?
O'SULLIVAN: But it's false.
UNKNOWN: No, it is not. Why would they have all those ballots hidden on their tables? Why did that man drive that truck all the way across state lines with the ballots?
(CROSSTALK)
O'SULLIVAN: But it wasn't like the -- the ballots on the table thing with Giuliani in Georgia, that's all proven to be false.
UNKNOWN: No. No.
UNKNOWN: It has not. I watched it on TV.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'SULLIVAN: And Don, the stuff you are hearing there, I mean, that is there conspiracy theories that have been debunked for months. For so many months. And look, you know, it's easy to look at what happened behind us here tonight with, you know, two very controversial members of the House, and folks like those voters there that I spoke and say, well, this is all a fringe element.
But I mean, look at the polling numbers. It's not fringe in the Republican Party right now. Seventy percent of Republicans believe the big lie according to a CNN poll last week. That's seven-zero, 70 percent. Almost all Republicans believe in some way that Biden was not legitimately elected president.
[22:15:02]
LEMON: The irony of this question, isn't it -- isn't it horrible that we are even in a place where we would believe that? Yes. It is horrible. And I wonder if they really thought about why they are in that place. It's because maybe somebody, a bunch of people were lying to them?
But listen, to be clear, Donie. Not everybody in The Villages is supportive. I mean, you caught up with pro-Biden protesters, right? What do they have to say? O'SULLIVAN: Yes. Yes. Look, this is a very red district, but there are
Democrats here and there was a small group of Biden supporters who demonstrated across the street and things got a bit tense earlier in the evening. I mean, this is supposed to be a sleepy retirement community, but it was a very, very active Friday night here.
But look, a lot of the Democrats I spoke to here were frankly just discussed that Gaetz with all that's going on with him and Greene having pushed her conspiracy theories and QAnon in the past that they chose this community to kick off this tour, which I'm sure will continue through the -- through next year's midterms. Don?
LEMON: Donie, man, you do a great job. You have your work cut out for you, though. Have a good one. Thank you for appearing on the show. See you later. Be safe down there.
O'SULLIVAN: Thanks, Don.
LEMON: The GOP sideshow tonight pushing the big lie and the big liar. But what's the real endgame of the GOP purge and what does it mean for future elections?
[22:20:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: The Gaetz and Greene road show on tour in Florida tonight. But they are really playing to an audience of one. Trump, who is tightening his grip on the Republican Party as Liz Cheney is expected to be stripped of her leadership post in the House GOP. That should happen next Wednesday for calling out the big lie of election fraud
Let's discuss now. Mark McKinnon is here, former adviser to George W. Bush and John McCain, the executive producer of The Circus on Showtime. Man, did you name that show the correct name title? I don't know. You must be a sage or got ESP or something. And CNN political commentator Anna Navarro is here as well. She looks great. Beautiful flowers behind you as well.
Good evening.
So, Mark, I'm going to start with you. Let's talk about what's happening. Gaetz is under investigation over allegations of sex trafficking. Greene with her QAnon believes, space lasers, Jewish space lasers and all that goes along with that.
So, these are the new faces of the GOP, while conservatives like Liz Cheney are getting pushed out? What's up?
MARK MCKINNON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. Well, I was going to ask ana. Ana, you remember in 2012 we did an autopsy of the election. And that's kind of a smart thing to do when you lose an election. Take a look at what didn't go right and maybe make a course direction for the next time around.
And I'm just trying to imagine the conversations right now. So, if you look around the table and say, OK, folks, we just lost a presidential election and our guy who was in incumbent president who's only won in 300 years that lost to reelect. He was twice impeached. He twice lost the popular vote. He lost the Senate. He lost the House. So, let's dump down on him and make a foster children of our party, Marjorie Taylor 'laser' Greene and Matt Gaetz's gate (Inaudible) their own charges soon. And let's kick out anybody with spinal cord like Liz Cheney.
LEMON: I mean, Ana, I was sitting there watching it. And like, it's when I go to the PT -- when I would get the PTA meeting as a local reporter because I'm not a parent or I would go with my friends who were parents. And there was always -- or even at -- even at your town meeting there's always someone who's never happy about anything.
The car line at the school is way too long. The people are coming in to change our community. We don't -- I mean, these are like two bad -- the worst parents who show up at the PTA meeting and we are all like, my gosh, these two again. Am I wrong?
ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: What can I tell you? I was like, the misfit toys go on tour. But I was chuckling as Mark was speaking and talking about 2012 in the autopsy after McCain lost, because Mark will remember, John McCain, going to The Villages and somebody told him it had one of the highest STD rates in the country and he could not step chuckling about that and talking about the entire campaign.
So, Matt Gaetz may want to be careful even though I do think we average eight death. There's about 60 years past his type.
MCKINNON: I was counting on Ana to go --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: So, let's see. Mark.
NAVARRO: Do you remember that, Mark?
LEMON: OK. We're going to move on. Mark, Senator Lindsey Graham he's now saying that the Republican Party can't go -- can't go without Trump, but Congressman Adam Kinzinger tonight offered a counter point that the GOP's surrender is what brought him back. I want you to listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KINZINGER: No facts have changed since January 6th except for the fact that there was a belief that the only way to win the majority is to go back to Donald Trump. And I think it's that action, by the way, that is actually the thing that has rehabilitated Donald Trump in the party. We had a real opportunity to leave him behind and instead we just basically put the paddles on him and he is back to life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Mark, do you agree? MCKINNON: Yes, we put the paddles back on Trumpenstein (Ph) and
(Inaudible) terrorize the entire village and pre -- in insurrection. You know, I'm struck, Don, you talked about Elise Stefanik earlier. And I remember her early on as she was, you know, originally a Bush person. And very much kind of a compassionate conservative.
But if you look at people -- and I have a lot more respect for Stefanik, for Lindsey Graham, for Ted Cruz if they are not just in the bag with Trump from the beginning. But they told the truth from the start. You've quoted them tonight that they said, they talked about what an awful character he was, how he lied all the time.
[22:25:03]
And then but as soon as it became convenient for them and as soon as they needed his power to be reflected in his glory, they just -- their back wings disappeared completely. So, that hypocrisy is what makes me say this Republican Party is first of all, a demographic cul-de-sac and it's crawling its way to the bottom. And they may take back the House in 2022 but I don't see much of the future to be honest with that.
NAVARRO: Well, Mark, and on that point --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Well, they're not the first ones to do that. I mean, if you look back at what happened in 2016 as well, I mean, Kellyanne Conway did something that was very similar.
MCKINNON: Yes.
LEMON: And all the characters of 2016. Same thing. Talk crap about Trump.
MCKINNON: Almost --
LEMON: And then, we love him. Sorry, Ana. Go on.
NAVARRO: But you know, Don, if I -- if I can interject here. Mark brings up Elise Stefanik and how she got into politics. She used to be a compassionate conservative in the Bush White House. Then she came to Congress because of Paul Ryan. So, she was a moderate conservative, a Romney-Ryan conservative.
And then when she saw that Donald Trump was the way to go, being the political wind sock that she happens to be, she attached herself like a barnacle to a whale to all things Trump and to the cult.
But one of the things that I find most ironic and most difficult to really just even see, watch and observe, is that one of her -- the -- one of her missions in Congress was to boost other Republican women. And so, when I see her participating and behaving like a vulture circling the -- you know, circling over Liz Cheney, waiting to pick the flesh off her political carcass, that Elise Stefanik does not qualify as boosting other Republican women. That is not girl code. In fact, it's everything but the opposite. So, I just, I find that
part particularly disgusting, for her to have changed her stripes and then gone from supposedly boosting Republican women to then doing this kind of betrayal to, and witch hunt to Liz Cheney. It's just inexplicable in such a short time.
LEMON: Ana, thank you. Next time we want you to say how you really feel. Mark, thank you, as well. I appreciate both of you. Have a great weekend. Republicans --
(CROSSTALK)
MCKINNON: What's going on in Sunday night, I'll be there.
LEMON: Yes, eight o'clock. Thank you.
Republicans pushing voting restrictions across the country. Restrictions that experts say target minorities and people of color, but could end up hurting everyone. I'm going to speak to two key figures in states where the fight for voting rights is going down. That's next.
[22:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Republicans on the Texas House today passing a new restrictive voting bill over objections from Democrats and many of America's largest corporations. It is the latest salvo in a Republican effort to limit access to voting all over the country, and give teeth to Trump's big lie that widespread voting fraud affected the 2020 election.
It was false then. It is false now. But that doesn't stop Arizona Republicans from forcing a controversial audit of a vote that is really, mired in conspiracy theories and cheered on by the former president himself.
So, joining me now to discuss is Arizona secretary of state, Katie Hobbs, and Lina Hidalgo, judge of Harris County, Texas. Good to have both of you on. Thank you so much. Good evening.
Katie, there is no proof of any widespread voting fraud in your state or anywhere else. Why is this audit happening?
KATIE HOBBS, ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE: You're right. There were nine cases after the election brought to court, and there was no evidence in any of them that proved any kind of fraud or irregularities in the election. We certified the results. It is six months after that. We are still rehashing this.
This is an attempt to continue to undermine voter's confidence in the process, and it helps to justify this rash of voter suppression bills that we are seeing in Arizona and across the country.
LEMON: So, Lina, to you, again, no proof that anything went wrong in your state either but Republicans in Texas are pushing a bill that they say will make elections more secure. What it does as of now is, empower poll watchers, makes it a crime to send ballot absentee applications and increase some penalties for voting crimes. Does this really make elections more secure?
LINA HIDALGO, JUDGE, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS: No, and you only have to take one of those to recognize that it doesn't. For example, when you say empower poll watchers, what the bills allows that passed it allows poll watchers to film voters as they're casting their vote. And it makes it a crime for poll workers to stop them.
But the biggest point is, all of this is based on that lie. So, what these bills do as they pass various states, is open the door to new legislation that restricts the vote and it weakens and tears away a democracy. Because that lie itself calls in to question the strength of our democracy. So, you know, incredibly, incredibly concerning and tragic, but we are very much still in the middle of the fight here.
LEMON: Katie, multiple states across the country are signing bills like this into law. All of these laws are just making it harder for everyone. What kind of impact do you foresee in coming -- in the upcoming election?
HOBBS: Well, I think combined with the efforts we are seeing with the so-called audit and working to undermine voter's confidence in the systems that we have.
[22:34:59]
We had historic participation in the 2020 election. Not just in Arizona but across the country. We should be celebrating that. We should be working to institutionalize the things that helped to ensure that voters could turn out in the face of a global pandemic. And, instead, we are going to exactly the opposite direction. And it has a terrible impact on voter's participation going forward.
LEMON: Lina, the restrictions Republicans are pushing target Democrats but making it harder to vote. It actually could end up disenfranchising all voters even their own. Am I wrong?
HIDALGO: You are correct. One of the innovations we implemented last year was drive-through voting. And we just used it again this past week. We had local elections here in Harris County. The busiest drive- through voting location by far was in a heavily Republican voting area.
And Secretary Hobbs' efforts to show to counter what's happening over there, you know, this is recount that's a complete sham. Over here you're again seeing the brute force lengths to which these folks are going to pass the bills. Doing it in the middle of the night, the next step, for example, all happens behind closed doors. It's -- there is nothing elegant about tearing down democracy, and it hurts both parties, absolutely.
LEMON: Yes. It hurts the country, it hurts everyone. Katie, listen. When I read this, I couldn't believe it. But there are tons of conspiracies floating around the audit in Arizona, including one ridiculous theory that claims thousands of ballots contain bamboo, and were flown in from somewhere in Asia.
The CEO of the company handling the audit touted a whole bunch of conspiracy theories on -- conspiracy theories on Twitter. Are all of these challenges coming from fringe political extremists?
HOBBS: I mean, it would seem so. There is literally nothing that we've seen in the conduct of this exercise, I don't want to call it an audit because it's not an audit.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: And I'm sorry for -- I should have, it's obvious after how many recounts have there been? Two or three recounts and it show nothing. It is obvious that it's extremists. Otherwise, it's the fringes.
HOBBS: Yes, it is. And there is no basis in actual election recount, or election audit procedures that we've see happen anywhere in the coliseum in Phoenix. They are testing unfounded things like using these UV lights to look for bamboo fibers and watermarks that don't exist and things like that. It's just ludicrous, and there's nothing legitimate that's going to come out of this.
LEMON: I mean, wow. On a personal note Katie, you are receiving, as I understand, protection from law enforcement because of death threats and harassment. You are not backing down, if you want to -- if you don't mind talking about it.
HOBBS: I', absolutely not backing down. I am the one standing up for the election integrity in Arizona and to protect the voters. And I -- there is not anything that's going to stop me from doing that. It is the job that Arizonans elected me to do.
LEMON: Katie, be safe. Thank you so much. Lina, you as well, thank you so much. I appreciate it.
HIDALGO: Thank you.
LEMON: New federal charges against Derek Chauvin and three other officers in the death of George Floyd. The Floyd family lawyer, Ben Crump, reacts next.
[22:40:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: A federal grand jury indicting Derek Chauvin and three other ex-Minneapolis officers in the death of George Floyd. Alleging they violated its constitutional rights. Chauvin was convicted last month in Minnesota's -- in a Minnesota state court of murdering George Floyd.
Joining me now to discuss is Ben Crump, the attorney for the Floyd family. Ben, thank you for joining us. I really appreciate it.
BENJAMIN CRUMP, ATTORNEY FOR FLOYD FAMILY: Thank you for having me, Don. LEMON: Today, this indictment of Chauvin, and the other three officers
alleges that they willfully deprived Floyd of his constitutional rights. How is the family reacting to this news tonight?
CRUMP: Don Lemon, the family of George Floyd was very grateful when Attorney General Merrick Garland call them to tell them that they will bring in these civil right criminal charges against the officers that killed George Floyd on May 25th, 2020. They understood the importance of the Department of Justice on a federal level bringing charges.
LEMON: How is this going to factor, or will it at all factor into Chauvin's sentencing for the state murder charge, or the state murder charges, I should say, Ben?
CRUMP: Well, I think it's significant, not only for Chauvin in the state charges, but also for the other three officers. Because now they understand that they not only have to try to get an acquittal on the state level, but they will also have to get an acquittal on the federal level to escape accountability.
And let's be honest, Don, we all know that when we watched that video for the first time, that they had violated George Floyd's constitutional rights. Because we have a right as the foundation of the United States Constitution to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And they deprived him of his right to life when they would not let him take another breath for 9 minutes, and 29 seconds. So, we think it's so appropriate what the Justice Department did.
[22:44:49]
And Don, it sends a very strong message to other tragedies dealing with excessive force against minorities, especially Black people in America, that this Department of Justice under Joe Biden is going to be zealous in attacking people who violate any citizen's constitutional rights.
LEMON: Derek Chauvin, Ben, was also indicted in a separate federal case today over 2017 incident where he is accused of holding a 14- year-old boy by his throat, hitting him multiple times with a flashlight. Kneeling on his neck. The judge didn't allow the jury to hear about this incident, but now it's going to be part of a separate case. Was that the right call you think?
CRUMP: I do believe it was the right call, Don Lemon, because as we alleged in our civil lawsuit, my co-counsels and I, we talked about that, that this was a pattern in practice of conduct of Derek Chauvin that had been condoned by the Minneapolis Police Department. We felt that he should have never been on the force after he did this to this 14-year-old baby, and that if they would have did it, then George Floyd would have been alive today.
But I do want to applaud the Mayor Frey in the city of Minneapolis because as part of this civil settlement, the $27 million was significant, but the policy reforms were significant. And they're trying to set a precedent that this union arbitration with the police union that kept Derek Chauvin employed needs to be abolished when the police chief and the CSC (Ph) officer who is exhibiting this counter pattern and behavior, they need to get rid of him. Everybody is (Inaudible) to have a gun and a badge.
LEMON: Ben, we have this new tonight that the bipartisan group of lawmakers are working on an overhaul to police. They seem to be nearing an agreement to set federal standards for no-knock warrants, banning chokeholds, and placing limits on equipment. That the Defense Department can send to state and local police departments.
You met with those lawmakers. Are you feeling optimistic that the George Floyd Policing Act could become law?
CRUMP: I really am, Don. Because when George Floyd's family, and Eric Garner's family and Botham Jones' family, and Terence Crutcher's family met, especially where Senator Tim Scott and Senator Lindsey Graham, it was very emotional. Remember, that is the issue. Where the Republicans joined the Democrats in passing the Congressional Black Caucus in the House of Representatives the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act. They got very emotional during that meeting and talking about those families' blood is going to be on that legislation.
So, it has to be meaningful. Senate Leader Chuck Schumer said if the families didn't believe it wasn't meaningful, he would not present it to the floor. And so, we are optimistic that hopefully by May 25th, the one-year anniversary of the tragedy, Don, and you know it well because you and I were going to do something to Floyd family to America that we pass this bill.
I happen to be in Houston, Texas today where Texas Southern University will have the Floyd family there at the commencement, and we will inspire young people that we can do better, America. We can have a more just America.
LEMON: Ben, before you go, I want to ask you about the Andrew Brown case in Elizabeth, North Carolina. The sheriff there announcing tonight that the family will be allowed to view specific videos of the fatal incident with police. That's going to happen on Tuesday of next week. What does the Brown family saying about that?
CRUMP: Well, you know, they want to let everybody understand that they are grateful that they finally get to see the video, but what they are troubled by as we all are, is this lack of transparency. That they won't show the videos. And they tried to sweep it under the rug. That's why what the Justice Department did today with George Floyd killing holding all these officers responsible.
It gives hope for families like Andrew Brown in North Carolina like Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and so many other Black families who failed to get any kind of due process because of local actors wouldn't act where the Justice Department saying if you won't, we will.
And I think in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Don, they're watching what the Department of Justice is doing in Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, and what they are doing in Minneapolis. And they know that they need to do the right thing and give this family due process and transparency so we can see what happened when they shot Andrew Brown in the back of his brain.
[22:50:02]
LEMON: Benjamin Crump, thank you for your time, sir. I appreciate it.
CRUMP: Thank you, Don.
LEMON: This is one epic Zoom fail. An Ohio lawmaker gives a new meaning to out of the office. See that seatbelt? I'm going to explain.
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LEMON: Take this. An Ohio lawmaker caught Zooming around during a Zoom meeting. State Senator Andrew Brenner taking an official meeting from his car. It's obvious, right? You see him there on the right side of your screen. But seconds later, wait for it, you're going to see it in a second. He's in a home office. Complete with plant, cabinets, some artwork, and the seatbelt is still strapped on. Kind of it didn't give away. Unless it's some crazy video game. Who knows?
[22:55:10]
But at certain points during the meeting you could see the state senator looking around for traffic and you could -- who could blame him? It's always good practice to look both ways before making any moves on the road. The lawmaker defending his on the go meeting attendance to an Ohio paper saying that he wasn't distracted.
Adding this, I've actually been on other calls, numerous calls while driving. Phone calls for the most part, but on video calls I'm not paying attention to the video, to me it's like a phone call. A spokesperson from the Ohio state Senate tells our team that Brenner was following the law and using hands free technology.
The meeting on Monday happening on the same day, by the way, that Ohio, the state legislature there introduced a bill on distracted driving. Brenner did keep his eyes forward and focused on the road for most of the meeting no matter how bumpy it got.
The story? A good reminder for all of you drivers out there to keep your eyes on the road. Hands attendant too. Always wear your seatbelt. But save the Zoom calls for when you get home maybe. Look at that. It's so funny.
OK, up next. GOP dysfunction at an all-time high. Conspiracies in lies now at the forefront. But first, I want to take a look at my new documentary. It comes out on Sunday night at 8 p.m. right here on CNN.
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UNKNOWN: Marvin Gaye's groundbreaking what's going on.
UNKNOWN: It was the first time that I understood poetry.
UNKNOWN: This one the greatest albums ever made.
UNKNOWN: His melodies were like a voice of crying.
UNKNOWN: He created something that will last.
UNKNOWN: Fifty years later. Why is it an anthem for a new generation?
UNKNOWN: It's prophesy, man.
LEMON: What do you think, Marvin, about what's going on?
UNKNOWN: CNN special report, What's Going On, Marvin Gaye's anthem for the ages Sunday at 8.
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